My Mother...

Dear Forum Members,

Thank you for all the answers and support and for being there for me. My mother, though, is beginning to deteriorate and is losing some functions. Over the last 4 days she has declined rapidly and the doctor, who ordered an emergency MRI for last night, knew without even seeing it that this is not good. She advises us to look into hospice and said that we have-at best- a few weeks. She's been amazing and was so saddened; she told me she thinks about my mom all the time and worries about her at night. I know as you're reading this some of you might say: "I was given 2 weeks to live and came out of it/beat it..."-but it won't be the case here. We've seen the down-hill spiral this is taken. She's almost not using her left side at all- initially it was post-surgery/stroke-like neglect- but at this point she's just losing function because she's not using it much. This morning she didn't realize she had to urinate and did so all over... it's sad to watch, but we knew it was coming. Not that it made it easier by any means, I don't know... The MRI results will be in this morning and I'm certain they will confirm the dr.'s belief that her tumor has grown at least 20% over the last few weeks. She failed Temodar and the Avastin/CPT11 isn't working, either... Her tumor was unsual from the start and because it was "like pearls on a string" as opposed to one lump, it was harder to control. We had hope, prayed, and believed all along that she will "fight this" and be among the 2-3-5 year "long term" survivors, but I guess that's not gonna happen now. I don't know what else to say, but I'll keep everyone posted. At this point we told my (16 year old) brother, some family members, and we're planning on making the next few weeks as pleasant as possible and provide the best quality of life though family support and in-home hospice and then eventually "real" hospice care. I'll keep everyone posted.

I am so sorry to hear this. You have been such a warrior for your mom. I've been following your story and taken special interest it because your tireless effort to help and support your mom is so evident. I wish I could offer more than (((hugs))) to you.

Hello,
My name is Katie and my mom like yours is fighting the hard fight of brain cancer GMB4. She was also given a very short time to live like 1 to 3 months. Hers is not a string of pearls but more like a hand with tumors branching off of what would be called the "FINGERS". Her tumor that they first found was the size of a large tangerine and was on the left side and it was more tward the back of her head. She has been a tough cookie and has worked her butt off trying to live as long as she can. Unfortunatly, I feel as though she won't make it more then the end of the year. b/c as the days go by she gets more and more tired and more and more less able to move. She's very weak, swollen with water retention, can't walk, she can't see, her ability to talk is very hard, more like she stutters, but it's from not being able to get the words out that she knows she wants to say. I am 22 and she just turned 43 this month. I had to shave her legs for her, and bathe her when she came out to TN. for my wedding in Aug. That was so hard for me to handle especially since my mom has always been able to do anything for her self and never would want someone else especially me on my wedding day or any other day to help her take a bath and shave her legs. But anyway this cancer tears my heart out and I send my prayers and love out to you and your mom and family. Lord knows I feel your pain.

P.S. How old are you and how old is your mom? How long has she had this cancer?

Katie